Things were good between us, sweet and caring, and wonderful. We never fought, never even bickered. But our relationship did not possess any of the passion, or rightness, that I felt with Cade. It was rare when we kissed, and I still found it awkward and uncomfortable. Bret was patient with me, certain that I would eventually come to feel more for him, and it was impossible not to put faith in anything that Bret said. Where Cade was an enigma, always had been, and always would be, Bret was an open book of honesty, hope, and love.
They were completely different people, and I was actually rather glad I was not going to live long enough to have to choose between them. Brets hand lingered on my cheek, brushing aside some of the drying blood that clung to me and the wound the thing had caused. Are you ok?
No, I answered honestly. I am not ok. We need to get the hell out of here, now.
Yes. He grasped hold of the plywood, his hand brushing briefly against mine. He was bigger than Cade, taller and broader. He was exceptionally handsome in a bright, unguarded way that was the exact opposite of Cades darkness. Bret had been the quarterback on the football team, the star athlete. He could have had a full ride to any college he wanted but that hope had been squashed by the aliens. People no longer traveled anywhere, never mind to college in order to better themselves. The aliens did not want us smarter. They had claimed that under their society everyone would be equal, and that there was no need for higher education. There would be no more starvation, no more illness and premature death. It had never surprised me that so many people had fallen for their lies, it was easy to believe in something when it was wanted badly enough.
Bret had been mister popularity, the golden boy that the girls had chased around, and yet, for some reason, he had wanted me. I should have been flattered by this; all of my friends had told me so. They had been jealous when hed started asking me out. They had also been extremely incredulous, and angry, when I had continued to turn him down. They had not been any happier when I finally relented and said yes to him. They simply hadnt understood how I felt about Bret; they still didnt, and in all honesty, neither did I.
Bethy. I turned my head toward him, trying hard to keep my face impassive. Ill keep you safe.
I winced involuntarily, mentally kicking myself even harder. If, by some miracle, we did survive this I was officially going to consider myself the worst human being ever. We have to be quick, move through the woods, down the trail. We can lose them once we get into the thick areas. Aidens tone was hopeful, but we all knew that was highly unlikely. They were airborne after all. Abby, get the door.
Abby glanced nervously at all of us, her hands tightened on the bag she held. Taking a deep breath she managed a firm nod before pulling the door swiftly open. Light flooded in, my heart leapt in my chest, but Abby was already rushing outside. I wanted
to scream at her to wait, to come back, to not go out there, but we were no safer in here than we were out there.
Stay close, Bret hissed as we rushed out the door behind Abby.
I wanted to argue with him, wanted to tell him that I could take care of myself, but what was the point? I couldnt take care of myself in this situation. No one could.
The light was far brighter outside; it blazed across the sky with the force of a million bright bulbs. It blared against my eyes, causing me to stumble and nearly fall as I bumbled blindly behind the plywood. A rumbling filled the air, shook the ground. I was dismayed to recognize it as the same awful sensation that had accompanied the arrival of that hideous thing earlier.
I wanted to look back, to see what was coming at us, but I was afraid that it would cause my control to completely unravel. I knew what was back there, and I sure as hell didnt want to see it again. Brets breathing was heavy beside me, I strained to make out Abby, but I couldnt recognize her through the glare pounding against my irises. I was going to be blind by the time this was over.
I felt, more than heard or saw the impending attack simply because those two senses were almost completely useless right now. I knew that it was coming, that something was hunting us, and that it was close. A scream of terror was trapped in my throat. I wasnt ready, I was too young for this, and I certainly had never wanted to go out this way. I wanted to scream against the indignity and awfulness of it all, but it would do me no good. There was no stopping this.
An image of my father flashed before my eyes. I was grateful that he had never had to know this, had never had to see his family hunted and slaughtered like rodents. I was glad that, as of right now, my mother seemed to have no idea that she was being pursued, and that her children were so close to death. Unfortunately she would wake up, just as that man had, but by then it would be too late, and death would follow shortly after. She would never have to know the loss of her children. I was glad for all of these things, and I was especially glad that I seemed to be the first one that they were going to take down. I couldnt stand to watch as they took my siblings, and Bret. I wanted to let go of the board and bolt in a different direction, but I knew it wouldnt do me any good, and I was not about to go down like a coward.